Staking A Claim by Laurence Yeo

Grade 6 - 12

In 1852, during the height of the California Gold Rush, ten-year-old Wong makes a dangerous trip to America to live with his uncle, exchanging the famine and war of his native country for brutal bullies and grueling labor in America. Wong joins his uncle and countless others in the effort to strike it rich on the great “Golden Mountain.” Unfortunately, he, and most of the rest of the dreamers, soon discover that there’s no such thing as a Golden Mountain, only dirt, mud, and occasionally tiny flecks of gold dust– flecks that are to be turned over to the owners of the mines, in return for barely livable wages.

Dragon’s Gate by Laurence Yep

Grade 6 - 12

In 1867, Otter travels from Three Willows Village in China to California -- the Land of the Golden Mountain. There he will join his father and uncle. In spite of the presence of family, Otter is a stranger among the other Chinese in California. And where he expected to see a land of goldfields, he sees only vast, cold whiteness. But Otter’s dream is to learn all he can, take the technology back to the Middle Kingdom, and free China from the Manchu invaders. Otter and the others board a machine that will change his life– a train for which he would open the Dragon’s Gate.

Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park

Grade 6 - 12

Prairie Lotus is a powerful, touching, multilayered book about a girl determined to fit in and realize her dreams: getting an education, becoming a dressmaker in her father’s shop, and making at least one friend, a young half-Asian girl, Hanna, in a small town in America’s heartland, in 1880. Hanna’s adjustment to her new surroundings, which primarily means negotiating the townspeople’s almost unanimous prejudice against Asians, is at the heart of the story.

Surfer of the Century by Ellie Crowe

Grade K-5

Growing up in Honolulu with the Pacific Ocean as his backyard, Duke Kahanamoku learned to swim and surf at a young age. By his early twenties, Duke’s lightning-fast swimming won him a place on the 1912 United States Olympic team and a gold medal in the 100-meter freestyle race. Over the years Duke struggled with racism and financial troubles, but by the end of his twenty-year Olympic career, he was a six-time medal winner.

The Arrival by Shaun Tan

Grade K-8

The Arrival is a migrant story told as a series of wordless images. A  man leaves his wife and child in an impoverished town, seeking better prospects in an unknown country on the other side of a vast ocean. He eventually finds himself in a bewildering city of foreign customs,  peculiar animals, curious floating objects, and indecipherable languages.  With nothing more than a suitcase and a handful of currency, the immigrant must find a place to live, food to eat, and some kind of gainful employment. He is helped along the way by sympathetic strangers,  each carrying their own unspoken history: stories of struggle and survival in a world of incomprehensible violence, upheaval, and hope.

They Called Us Enemy by George Takei, Steven Scott, and Justin Eisinger

Grade 6-12

In 1942, at the order of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, every person of Japanese descent on the west coast was rounded up and shipped to one of ten "relocation centers," hundreds or thousands of miles from home, where they would be held for years under armed guard. They Called Us Enemy is George Takei's firsthand account of those years behind barbed wire, the joys and terrors of growing up under legalized racism, his mother's hard choices, his father's faith in democracy, and the way those experiences planted the seeds for his astonishing future.

Write to Me by Cynthia Grady

K - Grade 5

When Executive Order 9066 is enacted after the attack at Pearl Harbor, children’s librarian Clara Breed’s young Japanese American patrons are to be sent to prison camp. Before they are moved, Breed asks the children to write her letters and gives them books to take with them. Through the three years of their internment, the children correspond with Miss Breed, sharing their stories, providing feedback on books, and creating a record of their experiences. Using excerpts from children’s letters held at the Japanese American National Museum, author Cynthia Grady presents a difficult subject with honesty and hope.

Journey for Justice by Dawn B. Mabalon with Gayle Romasanta

Grade 6 - 8

This picture book, written by historian Dawn Bohulano Mabalon with writer Gayle Romasanta, richly illustrated by Andre Sibayan, tells the story of Larry Itliong’s lifelong fight for a farmworkers union, and the birth of one of the most significant American social movements of all time, the farmworker’s struggle, and its most enduring union, the United Farm Workers.

I Dream of Popo by Livia Blackburne

K - Grade 5

This delicate, emotionally rich picture book celebrates a special connection that crosses time zones and oceans as Popo and her granddaughter hold each other in their hearts forever.

Eyes that Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho

K - Grade 5

This lyrical, stunning picture book tells a story about learning to love and celebrate your Asian-shaped eyes, in the spirit of Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry, and is a celebration of diversity.

I am Hua Mulan by Qin Wenjun

K - Grade 5

A girl retells the story of the legendary female warrior she admires, who long ago fought bravely to protect her people.

Drawn Together by Minh Le

K - Grade 5

A beautifully told and illustrated story about a grandson and grandfather struggling to communicate across divides of language, age, and culture.

A Map into the World by Kao Kalia Yang

K - Grade 5

As the seasons change, so too does a young girl’s world. She moves into a new home with her family and encounters both birth and death. As this curious girl explores life inside her house and beyond, she collects bits of the world. But who are her treasures for?

Chinese New Year Colors by Richard Lo

K - Grade 5

From exploding red firecrackers to sweet brown peanut puffs, this festive book presents all the delights of the Chinese New Year. Aiming to teach children about the holiday as well as about color words in both English and Chinese... but children will enjoy the vivid pictures of dragons, lucky fish, and more.

My Day with Gong Gong by Sennah Yee

K - Grade 5

In Sennah Yee’s debut children’s book My Day with Gong Gong, a day in Chinatown takes an unexpected turn when a bored little girl makes a connection with her grandpa.

‘Ohana means Family by Ilima Loomis

K - Grade 5

“This is the land that’s never been sold, where work the hands, so wise and old, that reach through the water, clear and cold, into the mud to pick the taro to make the poi for our ohana’s luau.” Acclaimed illustrator and animator Kenard Pak’s light-filled, dramatic illustrations pair exquisitely with Ilima Loomis’ text to celebrate Hawaiian land and culture.

Laxmi’s Mooch by Shelly Anand

K - Grade 5

A joyful, body-positive picture book about a young Indian American girl’s journey to accept her body hair and celebrate her heritage after being teased about her mustache. Laxmi never paid much attention to the tiny hairs above her lip. But one day while playing farm animals at recess, her friends point out that her whiskers would make her the perfect cat. She starts to notice her body hair all over– on her arms, legs, and even between her eyebrows.

The Chinese New Year Dragon Nian by Shelly Anand

K - Grade 5

“Author Virginia Loh- Hagan (PoPo’s Lucky Chinese New Year) gives this retelling of the Nian legend an original twist, while explaining the origins of Chinese New Year traditions.”

The Many Colors of Harpreet Singh by Supriya Kelkar

K - Grade 5

Harpreet Singh has a different color for every mood and occasion, from pink for dancing bhangra beats to red for courage. He especially takes care with his patka– his turban– smoothing it out and making sure it always matches his outfit. But when Harpreet’s mom finds a new job in a snowy city and they have to move, all he wants is to be invisible. Will he ever feel a happy sunny yellow again?

Yang Warriors by Kao Kalia Yang

K - Grade 5

Inspiring tale of resourceful children confronting adversaries in a refugee camp. After lunch the Yang warriors prepare for battle. They practice drills, balance rocks on their heads, wield magical swords from fallen branches. Led by ten-year-old Master Me (whose name means “little”), the ten cousins are ready to defend the family at all costs. After a week without fresh vegetables, the warriors embark on a dangerous mission to look for food, leaving the camp’s boundaries, knowing their punishment would be severe if they were caught by the guards.

When Lola Visits by Michelle Sterling

K - Grade 5

“For one young girl, summer is the season of no school, of days spent at the pool, and of picking golden limes off the trees. But summer doesn’t start until her Lola– her grandmother from the Philippines– comes for her annual visit. When Lola visits, the whole family gathers to cook and eat and share in their happiness of another season spent together.”

Where Three Oceans Meet by Rajani LaRocca

K - Grade 5

Traveling to the southern tip of India, Sejal, Mommy and Pati find their way to Kanyakumari, where three oceans meet, and delight in making it to the end of the earth together. This picture book celebrates multigenerational love.

Sugar in Milk by Thrity Umrigar

K - Grade 5

A young immigrant girl joins her aunt and uncle in a new country that is unfamiliar to her. She struggles with loneliness, with a fierce longing for the culture and familiarity of home, until one day, her aunt takes her on a walk. As the duo strolls through their city park, the girl’s aunt begins to tell her an old myth, and a story within the story begins.

The Most Beautiful Thing by Kao Kalia Yang

K - Grade 5

Drawn from author Kao Kalia Yang’s childhood experiences as a Hmong refugee, this moving picture book portrays a family with a great deal of love and little money. Weaving together Kalia’s story with that of her beloved grandmother, the book moves from the jungles of Laos to the family’s early years in the United States

Sam Wu is Not Afraid of the Dark by Katie & Kevin Tsang

Grade 6 - 8

Sam Wu is NOT a scaredy-cat (except he is). When a trip to the Space Museum goes terrifyingly wrong, Sam begins a mission to prove to the school bully, and all of his friends, that he is a fearless space adventurer. A truly laugh-out-loud, voice-led madcap story of a ghost hunting, snakes and mischievous pet cats called Butterbutt, perfect for fans of Tom Gates, Wilf the Mighty Worrier and Barry Loser, and readers aged six plus.

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

Grade 6 - 8

American Born Chinese tells the story of three apparently unrelated characters: Jin Wang, who moves to a new neighborhood with his family only to discover that he’s the only Chinese-American student at his new school; the powerful Monkey King, subject of one of the oldest and greatest Chinese fables; and Chin-Kee, a personification of the ultimate negative Chinese stereotype, who is ruining his cousin Danny’s life with his yearly visits.

Amina’s Voice by Hena Khan

Grade 6 - 8

A Pakistani-American Muslim girl struggles to stay true to her family’s vibrant culture while simultaneously blending in at school after tragedy strikes her community. Amina has never been comfortable in the spotlight. She is happy just hanging out with her best friend, Soojin. Except now that she’s in middle school everything feels different. Soojin is suddenly hanging out with Emily, one of the “cool” girls in the class, and even talking about changing too? Or hiding who she is to fit in? While Amina grapples with these questions, she is devastated when her local mosque is vandalized.

Awesome Asian Americans: 20 Stars Who Made America Amazing by Phil Amara

Grade 6 - 8

Enjoy the best children’s anthology of noteworthy Asian Americans. This compelling collection features 20 profiles with 60 action-packed, color illustrations. It’s about time- rebel girls, rad women, little leaders, and great guys are Asian American too! Readers will enjoy learning about 20 groundbreaking citizens who have contributed to the USA.

Unsettled by Reem Faruqi

Grade 6 - 8

“This powerful, charming own voices immigration story follows a girl who moves from Karachi, Pakistan to Peachtree City, Georgia, and must find her footing in a new world.”

We Belong by Cookie Hiponia Everman

Grade 6 - 12

Stella and Luna know that their mama, Elsie, came from the Philippines when she was a child, but they don’t know much else. So one night they ask her to tell them her story. As they get ready for bed, their mama spins two tales: that of her youth as a strong-willed middle child and immigrant: and that of the young life of Mayari, the mythical daughter of a god. Both are tales of sisterhood and motherhood, and of the difficult experience of trying to fit into a new culture, and having to fight for a home and acceptance.

When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller

Grade 6 - 12

Would you make a deal with a magical tiger? This uplifting story brings Korean folklore to life as a girl goes on a quest to unlock the power of stories and save her grandmother. 

More to the Story by Hena Khan

Grade 6 - 12

When Jameela Mirza is picked to be feature editor of her middle school newspaper, she’s one step closer to being an award-winning journalist like her late grandfather. The problem is her editor-in-chief keeps shooting down her article ideas. Jameela’s assigned to write about the new boy in school, who has a cool British accent but doesn’t share much, and wonders how she’ll make his story gripping enough to enter into a national media contest. 

From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry: The Killing of Vincent Chin and the Trial that Galvanized the Asian American Movement by Paula Yoo

Grade 6 - 12

“A compelling account of the killing of Vincent Chin, the verdicts that took the Asian American community to the streets in protest, and the groundbreaking civil rights trial that followed.

Luck of the Titanic by Stacey Lee

Grade 6 - 12

Valora Luck has two things: a ticket for the biggest and most luxurious ocean liner in the world, and a dream of leaving England behind and making a life for herself as a circus performer in New York. Much to her surprise though, she’s turned away at the gangway: apparently, Chinese aren’t allowed into America. But Val has to get on the ship. Her twin brother Jaime, who has spent two long years at sea, is there, as is an influential circus owner, whom Val hopes to audition for.

Her Name is Kaur by Meeta Kaur

Grade 6 - 12

Sikh American women do the lion’s share of organizing and executing the business of the Sikh community, and they straddle multiple lives and worlds– cross-cultural, intergenerational, occupational, and domestic– yet their experiences of daith, family, and community are virtually invisible in the North American milieu and have yet to be understood.

Her Name is Kaur by Meeta Kaur

Grade 6 - 12

Sikh American women do the lion’s share of organizing and executing the business of the Sikh community, and they straddle multiple lives and worlds– cross-cultural, intergenerational, occupational, and domestic– yet their experiences of daith, family, and community are virtually invisible in the North American milieu and have yet to be understood.

We Are Not Free by Traci Chee

Grade 6 - 12

Fourteen teens who have grown up together in Japantown, San Francisco. Fourteen teens who form a community and a family, as interconnected as they are conflicted. Fourteen teens whose lives are turned upside down when over 100,000 people of Japanese ancestry are removed from their homes and forced into desolate incarceration camps. In a world that seems determined to hate them, these young Nisei must rally together as racism and injustice threaten to pull them apart.

Lupe Wong Won’t Dance by Donna Barba Higuera

Grade 6 - 12

Lupe Wong is determined to be the first female pitcher in the Major Leagues. She’s also championed causes her whole young life. Some worthy…like expanding the options for race on school tests beyond just a few bubbles.

And some not so much…like complaining to the BBC about the length between Doctor Who seasons. Lupe needs an A in all her classes in order to meet her favorite pitcher, Fu Li Hernandez, who’s Chinacan / Mexinese just like her. So, when the horror that is square dancing rears its head in gym? Obviously, she’s not gonna let that slide.

Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri

Grade 6 - 12

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for fiction, this stunning debut collection unerring charts the emotional journeys of characters seeking love beyond the barriers of nations and generations. In stories that travel from India to America and back again, Lahiri speaks with universal eloquence to everyone who has ever felt like a foreigner.

Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai

Grade 6 - 12

For all the ten years of her life, Hà has only known Saigon: the thrills of its markets, the joy of its traditions, and the warmth of her friends close by. But now the Vietnam War has reached her home. Hà and her family are forced to flee as Saigon falls, and they board a ship headed toward hope. In America, Hà discovers the foreign world of Alabama: the coldness of its strangers, the dullness of its food…and the strength of her very own family.